Description
Easy and delicious fall dessert bars featuring seasonal flavors like pumpkin, apple, and pecan. Perfect for autumn gatherings and holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (for pumpkin bars)
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (for pumpkin bars)
- 1 cup chopped apples (for apple bars)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (for apple bars)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the batter into two portions.
- For pumpkin bars: Stir pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice into one portion of the batter.
- For apple bars: Stir chopped apples and cinnamon into the other portion of the batter.
- Spread the pumpkin batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Dollop spoonfuls of the apple batter over the pumpkin batter. Swirl gently with a knife.
- Sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- For gluten-free bars, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Adjust baking time based on your oven.
- Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: fall dessert bars, autumn dessert recipes, pumpkin bars, apple cinnamon bars, pecan pie bars, holiday desserts, easy dessert bars, seasonal baking, dessert bars fall